RESUMEN
Patients with Parkinson's disease [PD] have higher concentration of plasma homocysteine [Hcy]. Elevation of total serum Hcy level has been known as a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was comparison of serum Hcy level between PD patients with stage =< 2.5 and PD patients with stage > 2.5 [according to modified Yohen and Yahr method], and assessing the association between the duration of disease and Hcy levels. This case - control study was done on 50 patients with Parkinson's disease in the year 2005 in Al - Zahra Hospital of Isfahan. Patients divided into two groups: control group 1 included 23 patients with mild disease [stage=<2.5]; 27 patients with sever Parkinson's [stage>2.5] were put in the case group 1. Considering the duration of the disease, also, patients were divided into case 2 [more than 4 year duration with 24 patients] and control 2 [less than 4 year duration with 26 patients] groups. Hcy level was measured in all patients and compared in different groups. Individual and laboratory data were collected in questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency distribution tables. The mean serum Hcy level in severe PD group was 24.96 micro mol/lit and in mild PD group was 25.07 micro mol/lit. There was no significant statistical difference between them. The mean serum level of Hcy, without any significant difference, in patients with duration of disease lower than 4 years was 23.51 micro mol/lit and in group with duration of more than that was 26.40 micro mol/lit. The present study showed that serum Hcy level doesn't have any relation with stage and duration of disease, and cannot be used as a predictive value for the progression of PD